The bounty all begins with the soil. Northampton County is well-endowed with excellent soils for agriculture. Those soils present in the County that are well suited to agriculture are the upland soils of Bojac and Munden, or in other words, loam.
Loam soils have a number of benefits and advantages.
• They have more humus (the organic component of the soil)
• The hold more moisture and nutrients.
• They have better drainage.
• Loamy soils have better infiltration of water and air.
• Loam soils are a better habitat for beneficial microorganisms
Northampton County is considered Prime Farmland. “Prime farmland, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is land that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops and is available for these uses. It could be cultivated land, pastureland, forestland, or other land, but it is not urban or built-up land or water areas.
Soybeans and early morning dew. Photo credit: Helene Doughty
The soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply are those needed for the soil to economically produce sustained high yields of crops when proper management, including water management, and acceptable farming methods are applied…
In total, about 75% of the land in the Northampton County is classified as Prime Farmland.”
(Northampton County Comprehensive Plan)